Baby Blues Connectionhttp://babybluesconnection.org/bbc
Help for pregnant and postpartum moms and dads with depression, anxiety, and stress.Mon, 05 Dec 2016 04:41:53 +0000en-UShourly1Announcing our winnershttp://babybluesconnection.org/bbc/winners-announced/
Mon, 05 Dec 2016 04:41:53 +0000http://babybluesconnection.org/bbc/?p=3181We love giving away prizes. Long before Give!Guide event started, we worked hard to come up with special incentives that we could give away on Big Give days during November and December (the Give!Guide giving season). We’re pleased to be announcing these winners for our Give!Guide incentives available to donors …

]]>We love giving away prizes. Long before Give!Guide event started, we worked hard to come up with special incentives that we could give away on Big Give days during November and December (the Give!Guide giving season).

We’re pleased to be announcing these winners for our Give!Guide incentives available to donors who gave on 11/17 and 11/29.

We used Random Picker to select these winners. The results for 11/17 can be seen here and 11/29 here.

What’s next?! There are only two Big Give days left!

This coming Thursday, December 8th is the next Big Give Day. Willamette Week will be giving away 60 person Salt & Straw ice cream at Pips and Bounce. Can you imagine how much fun that would be! We’ll be giving away a private cake decorating class with Kimmie Hutchins and Jam Cakes. Click here for a brief video featuring some of her work.

We set a goal to raise $20,000 through Give!Guide this year. As of 7:30 pm on 12/5 we have made $8,330!
Please consider donating to Baby Blues Connection, the only non-profit serving mothers and families who are coping with perinatal mood disorders in the Portland metro area! Click here to give now. We can be found under health.

A big, big heartfelt thank you to everyone who has given thus far. We are truly very grateful.

]]>With just $10 you can enter to winhttp://babybluesconnection.org/bbc/fancy-a-new-tattoo/
Fri, 02 Dec 2016 01:18:26 +0000http://babybluesconnection.org/bbc/?p=3172December 1st is the first day of our tattoo raffle! Give $10 and be entered to win. Fancy a new tattoo? How about one for a friend too? Winning would make your wish of a new tattoo in 2017 a reality! Now through the end of the year, give to Baby …

]]>December 1st is the first day of our tattoo raffle! Give $10 and be entered to win.

Fancy a new tattoo? How about one for a friend too? Winning would make your wish of a new tattoo in 2017 a reality!

Now through the end of the year, give to Baby Blues Connection through Willamette Week Give!Guide and be entered to win one tattoo for you and another for a friend. Check out the fine print below for details.

We’ve partnered with Tattoos by Momma Tomma for this special offer! How do you enter? Give to Baby Blues Connection! Click Hereand give today.

Donate often to increase your chances of winning. Give on Monday and again on Tuesday. Contribute once each pay period. Skip two $5 coffees and enter to win instead! Join forces with a friend and pool your money together! Give a donation in your besties name as a holiday gift. Get creative.

And don’t worry. If you aren’t the type who likes tattoos, you aren’t obligated. We’ll check with you before announcing you are the winner and if you decline, we’ll pick again. Tattoos aren’t for everyone but if they are for you, we hope you win! Good luck.

The fine print:We’ll draw the winner January 1st. You’ll need to schedule the tattoo with Momma Tomma directly. The tattoo will be ‘hand-sized’. Some limitations on placement. Discuss with Momma Tomma. Tattoo must take place in Portland, Oregon.

]]>What is #GivingTuesday?http://babybluesconnection.org/bbc/what-is-giving-tuesday/
Mon, 28 Nov 2016 06:16:46 +0000http://babybluesconnection.org/bbc/?p=3162What is #GivingTuesday? Think of it like this: Black Friday Cyber Monday #GivingTuesday- The beginning of the charitable season! Always on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the widely utilized shopping events of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks of charitable giving, when many begin focusing on their holiday and …

Think of it like this:
Black Friday
Cyber Monday
#GivingTuesday- The beginning of the charitable season! Always on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the widely utilized shopping events of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks of charitable giving, when many begin focusing on their holiday and end-of-year giving. Local giving is encouraged, after all your community supports you and those around you when are are in need.

This coming Tuesday, GIVE big in support of Baby Blues Connection. Click here to GIVE now.

This year, #GivingTuesday falls on 11/29 which is also a Willamette Week Give!Guide BIG GIVE day. Read more about the great incentives and the next BIG GIVE day prize here. We are thrilled to be in our third year of the Give!Guide. Our goal this year is to raise $20,000. As of Sunday, 11/27 with our business match from The Children’s Clinic taken into account, we are half way to reaching our goal! We couldn’t do this without you, our community and we THANK YOU! Click hereto give to Baby Blues Connection through Give!Guide. (We’re in the health section!)

Why give to Baby Blues Connection?

We are the ONLY non-profit supporting mothers and families coping with perinatal mood disorders in the Portland metro area. The only one. When someone needs questions answered, we’re there for them. So often do we hear, “Do you think I have postpartum depression?” or “Am I the only one who fells this way?” We care. We understand. We don’t judge. We’re here for you (and your family members too!).

Our support, resources, 24/7 warm-line is FREE. And we fill the healthcare gap. It’s not uncommon that we speak with someone who has healthcare insurance, even mental health coverage but they can’t get into see someone for 4-6 weeks. Or it’s not uncommon to be speaking with someone who has gotten into see someone but the parent is waiting weeks to get back in. It’s also plausible that there’s no one in network who has training in PPD/A. Navigating the complex system of healthcare coverage is hard! We do our best to help but more often than not, it just simply takes time. It takes time to find someone who understands and who you mesh with. Or it times time to get into see someone who is recommended. While parents are waiting, we are there for them. We can provide phone, online, email support from one (or more volunteers!) at no charge.

]]>What we are thankful forhttp://babybluesconnection.org/bbc/what-we-are-thankful-for/
Mon, 28 Nov 2016 04:46:48 +0000http://babybluesconnection.org/bbc/?p=3159The past weekend, we spent time considering what we are thankful for. We really should’t need a specific weekend to reflect on what we have to be thankful for. Yet, there we were, considering and reflecting on how we, as an organization, manage ourselves and we kept coming back to …

]]>The past weekend, we spent time considering what we are thankful for.

We really should’t need a specific weekend to reflect on what we have to be thankful for. Yet, there we were, considering and reflecting on how we, as an organization, manage ourselves and we kept coming back to the same thing…there are so many people we need to thank.

You see, as a mostly volunteer run organization, we can’t get around the fact that volunteer hours propel us. It’s what keeps us going. It’s volunteers who do our daily activity, who answer our calls and delivery that person-to-person support. We are nothing without our volunteers. So thank you. You know who you are. And we owe you a great debt of gratitude.

If our volunteers are our soul then our board of directors are our bones. You are the support which enables us to complete the tasks or daily operation. You are unseen heroes, operating in the shadows, silently but consistently. You also know who you are and you are very, very important to us.

If our body functions because of volunteers and board support our backbone is our donors who support us while we consistently provide dedicated support to the mothers and parents who reach out to us. You are the force that moves us to action. Your support enables us. You provide the means.

And to our staff, who operate without prompt, who recognize what needs to be done and just does it…you are our shining light.

You may not know, when you call or reach out how, much effort and thought when into your reception. You may not know when you look for a resource for a client how much behind the scenes work and record keeping went into answering your plea with precision. If you look at our webpage and think, “there is so much information here!”, realize that many, many fingers touched those words and thought of you all the while. We are many. We share similar experiences. Because of us all, we feel community and acceptance. Our shared experience normalizes and validates our feelings.

Because of our community, ie. the thousands of women and men out there who support the work that we do, we all feel supported. If you were to reach out to all of us in the comments of this blog post you would find a multitude of kind-hearted individuals ready to support you. Reach out on our Facebook group of online support group and find the same.

Within Baby Blues Connection one is NEVER alone. You can support our mission here. Join us as a volunteer here (next training in February 2017!), express interest in joining us as a board member here and most importantly access support here by requesting a call here, joining our online group here, here is info on attending one of our groups or simply post in the comments that you need support and we’ll be there for you.

Baby Blues Connection is all about community and connectivity. It’s about validating and normalizing. You are never alone.

]]>A Give!Guide reporthttp://babybluesconnection.org/bbc/giveguide-report/
Mon, 21 Nov 2016 05:50:37 +0000http://babybluesconnection.org/bbc/?p=3155We wish to update you, our community, on our Give!Guide success to date! We’ll be three weeks into Give!Guide on this coming Tuesday. We’re doing great but still have just over $12, 500 left to raise before we reach our goal. Thank you to everyone who has given so far! We …

We’ll be three weeks into Give!Guide on this coming Tuesday. We’re doing great but still have just over $12, 500 left to raise before we reach our goal. Thank you to everyone who has given so far! We hope you know how truly grateful we are for your support. Give!Guide is very crucial and funds a large part of our operating budget.

It’s important as an organization that we also make every effort to reach new parents, who might benefit from our support. When you give to Baby Blues Connection through Give!Guide, please consider sharing that you gave with your social networks. We really want to reach every parent we can! Part of the process involves spreading the word about our existence. Share the link. Share even if you don’t think anyone you know needs support. Let’s reach parents before they need our support. If you are able to share why Baby Blues Connection matters to you, even better! Help us work to eliminate the stigma and talk about it.

The next BIG GIVE day is Tuesday, November 29th. The Willamette Week prize is a Trek bike from Bike Gallery. Read more about incentives from Willamette Week here. You can win a slice of pie, a scoop of ice cream and more, just for giving $10. Our prize that we’re giving away is 1, $100 gift certificate to Pick Your Dish- a homemade meal service in Portland. Read more about Pick Your Dish here.

Tuesday, November 29th is also what is known to be Giving Tuesday, the day where many non-profits receive donations in response to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Watch out for a special broadcast message on Giving Tuesday.

If you feel inclined to give in support of our mission and the work we do, please, give through Give!Guide by clicking here. We’re under the health category. Help us reach our goal of raising $20,000 before the end of the year.

]]>Be kind this weekhttp://babybluesconnection.org/bbc/be-kind-this-week/
Mon, 21 Nov 2016 05:20:24 +0000http://babybluesconnection.org/bbc/?p=3152Many of us will be giving thanks this week. Many will enjoy seeing friends and family alike, will enjoy food and good times. But for some, this holiday will be difficult. For others it will be downright excruciating. It’s important that we all realize that often times, we hold back …

]]>Many of us will be giving thanks this week. Many will enjoy seeing friends and family alike, will enjoy food and good times. But for some, this holiday will be difficult. For others it will be downright excruciating. It’s important that we all realize that often times, we hold back and don’t talk about it (whatever ‘it’ may be) out of fear. Fear of judgement. Fear of stigma.

This is particularly relevant in our current climate but specifically, let’s talk about postpartum depression and anxiety. Let’s not forget symptoms during pregnancy.

Baby Blues Connection has always stood for normalization and we’ve worked to fight the stigma associated with mood disorders. We’ve always listened in an unbiased way and worked with every parent we’ve engaged with to understand where they are at, at that particular moment in time.

During this week of thanks, let us be mindful of this ubiquitous quote for there is so much truth in it. Let us also strive to fight our tendencies to hold our emotions inside and not let them out. Let us try hard to find that kind, compassionate ear when we need support. Let us all work to BE that kind, compassionate ear. Let us apply this effort to friends and family who may be struggling. Let’s ask “how are you?” and then truly listen.

This week, when you are giving thanks, celebrating in whatever way you may, remember this post and strive to be kind.

]]>We’re going to be Skipping Bedtime! Are you?http://babybluesconnection.org/bbc/going-skipping-bedtime/
Thu, 10 Nov 2016 01:32:53 +0000http://babybluesconnection.org/bbc/?p=3136We’re going to be Skipping Bedtime soon! Are you? This coming Sunday, November 11th join us from 6 to 10 pm as we dance the night away and someone else puts the kids to bed. Show up at Holocene (1001 SE Morrison St) and pay $8 bucks at the door. …

]]>We’re going to be Skipping Bedtime soon! Are you? This coming Sunday, November 11th join us from 6 to 10 pm as we dance the night away and someone else puts the kids to bed. Show up at Holocene (1001 SE Morrison St) and pay $8 bucks at the door. We’ll let all the anxiety and fear that we’re feeling inside just burn away as we feel the beat and live in the moment.

A word from one of the organizers, a Baby Blues Connection volunteer, Crissy Shaffer:

Goddamn, buddies. I was so sure this was going to be a victory dance but it ain’t. Here’s the thing, you are still you. I am still me. I’m for love and I know you are too. I can’t wait to join together with all my amazing friends and beautiful strangers to dance, to be a community of people who care about people.

There is no them, there is only us. The way we live, all of us in our own bubbles, reinventing the wheel over and over again makes it hard for us to remember. It’s so easy to feel separated, to feel like there’s us and then there’s a bunch of people against us. I believe that we are all just trying to do the best we know how. Today it’s a struggle to keep believing. Yesterday a lot of people voted out of fear but I’m not going to respond with fear and hate.

A dance party feels frivolous but it’s gonna be us, together. Because if mama ain’t happy ain’t nobody happy.

It’s the BEST reason to come. Plus, all proceeds support Baby Blues Connection. Our Mission is to provide free support, information and resources to women and families coping with pregnancy and postpartum depression, and to further support and educate the professionals who serve them. Our goal is to support all families through the early years of new parenting. Over of 15% of pregnant and postpartum women will experience some form of depression, anxiety, feelings of isolation or hopelessness.

]]>Winners! Winners! Is your name inside?http://babybluesconnection.org/bbc/winner-winner-is-your-name-inside/
Fri, 04 Nov 2016 21:05:20 +0000http://babybluesconnection.org/bbc/?p=3128Here are the winners of the first two Baby Blues Connection sponsored Give!Guide prize drawings. These folks all gave $10 or more through Give!Guide to Baby Blues Connection- the only non-profit organization offering free perinatal mood disorders in Portland, Oregon. We love giving away prizes. Love it! On the opening …

]]>Here are the winners of the first two Baby Blues Connection sponsored Give!Guide prize drawings. These folks all gave $10 or more through Give!Guide to Baby Blues Connection- the only non-profit organization offering free perinatal mood disorders in Portland, Oregon.

We love giving away prizes. Love it! On the opening day of Give!Guide we gave away $10 gift certificates to Pip’s Original Donuts. Have you had some of these delicious bits of goodness?! You really must try them out. You’ll have another opportunity to win a certificate, a t-shirt and some swag before the end of the year.

We used a website call Random Picker to generate these winners. The results of the Winterhawks drawing can be viewed here. This is the webpage we’ll be using throughout Give!Guide when we have any prize to give away. We won’t use it if there were less entrants than the number of prizes. We feel it’s important to be transparent and will continue to publish these types of announcements over the next two months.

The next BIG GIVE day is next Thursday, November 10th. The Willamette Week prize is the super popular and frankly AMAZING $500 shopping spree to Powell’s Books. Our prize is 1 Truckette bag from Queen Bee Creations, a $125 value.

Here’s the link to give to BBC through Give!Guide. The incentives offered by Willamette Week are available at any time. These include things like a free taco, a slice of pie and a scoop of ice cream.

Thanks to everyone who has supported Baby Blues Connection so far. You truly are making a difference with us!

]]>Give!Guide starts tomorrowhttp://babybluesconnection.org/bbc/giveguide-2/
Tue, 01 Nov 2016 23:47:51 +0000http://babybluesconnection.org/bbc/?p=3125We are so very, very proud to be included in Willamette Week’s Give!Guide for the 3rd year in a row! This year, we’re going big. We’re offering great prizes. We’re setting our goal high and are looking for your support to meet our goal. Here’s the link to give to …

]]>We are so very, very proud to be included in Willamette Week’s Give!Guide for the 3rd year in a row! This year, we’re going big. We’re offering great prizes. We’re setting our goal high and are looking for your support to meet our goal. Here’s the link to give to BBC tomorrow!

Listen to our stories and start to tell yours as well. With one in seven women experiencing some form of perinatal mood disorders, our similarities are probably greater than our differences. There’s strength in hearing someone’s story and it’s validating to tell it. It helps so very much to hear, “I felt the same way”.

Our goal this year is to raise $20,000. That’s a huge amount. And every little bit counts. Just $10 has immense value to us! Every $10 donation pays for one third of our monthly phone bill which helps keep our critical lines of communication open.

The competitive person in all of us can really help us win the 35 and under challenge. This challenge is designed to encourage giving in, you guessed it, anyone 35 years of age or younger. There’s a prize if we win and we want to win!

Give!Guide opens tomorrow. Or at midnight tonight, if you really want to be specific and you are *slightly* competitive. (Click here if you are competitive!)

]]>A change to the way we communicate with youhttp://babybluesconnection.org/bbc/word-communications-baby-blues-connection/
Tue, 01 Nov 2016 23:35:26 +0000http://babybluesconnection.org/bbc/?p=3123Over the next two months, the way we communicate with you will change slightly. We’ll be sending out specialized communications for specific purposes. We’ll be sending out a weekly blast or email newsletter on Mondays. It contains all of our blog posts throughout the week, updates about our organization and …

]]>Over the next two months, the way we communicate with you will change slightly. We’ll be sending out specialized communications for specific purposes.

We’ll be sending out a weekly blast or email newsletter on Mondays. It contains all of our blog posts throughout the week, updates about our organization and lots of important information for you to know!

We’ll be sending out special broadcasts about Give!Guide on each BIG GIVE DAY or any other special occasions we have (such as Skipping Bedtime- read more here now). The first of these messages will come out Thursday!

Sharing is easy! Just forward the information on to a friend. We’d love your help in spreading the word about Baby Blues Connection. We’ll be sharing stories of volunteers and working to help everyone understand why people reach out for our help, how we help them and how they feel afterwards. We’ll also be sharing funny (and not so funny) statements from the moms we serve. These statements detail “what to say” and “what not to say” to a mama coping with postpartum depression or anxiety.

As we enter the last two months of the year, we’re counting on your support to help us reach our Give!Guide goal of $20,000. The easiest way to help is to stay up on communications, share our messages and give to BBC.